Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 319, Issue 3, 22 February 2002, Pages 133-136
Neuroscience Letters

Association of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-related psychopathology and personality traits with the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02575-7Get rights and content

Abstract

The role of the genetic polymorphism within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene is under discussion as a modulator for personality traits and a risk factor for several mental disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here we report a significant association of this polymorphism with scores on the Wender Utah Rating Scale, which was used for the assessment of a history of ADHD-associated symptoms, indicating a higher frequency of the long variant allele in individuals with high scores. We found no association between the 5-HTT polymorphism and personality traits according to the Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire and the Freiburg Personality Inventory, respectively, except a significant association with social orientation. Thus, our study supports the recently reported finding of an association of the 5-HTT polymorphism with ADHD. However, since a dimensional assessment of ADHD-related symptomatology was used in our study instead of a diagnostic approach, we are now on the way in performing further studies regarding diagnostic discrimination and comorbidity.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor Paul H. Wender for discussing the results of this study.

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